Chún'ān

Chun'an was an old county in the mountains of western Zhejiang, on the upper waters of the Xin'an River. Its seat, known as Hecheng, was home to officials, merchants and families connected by roads and rivers to neighbouring districts. In 1558 the Ming official Hai Rui became magistrate of Chun'an. During his four years in office he sought to reduce abuses, remeasure land and distribute labour obligations more evenly. His strict conduct brought him into conflict with powerful people. A shrine was later erected at Hecheng in his memory.